Charges expected against father of heroic son

FITCHBURG — A day after a young boy was praised for his response to a car crash that injured his father, police plan to charge the father with drunken driving and child endangerment.

Sgt. Glenn Fossa said Friday there are pending charges against Eugenio Garcia, 30, 216 Kimball St., who allegedly endangered the life of his 8-year old son Thursday morning when he allegedly drove drunk, crashed his car through a guardrail and overturned in the Nashua River.

Mr. Garcia is facing several possible charges: endangerment of a child under 14 while intoxicated, driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving to endanger, speeding, failure to wear a seat belt and a marked lanes violation.

Sgt. Fossa said Mr. Garcia had not been arrested and could be summoned for arraignment. The matter remains under investigation, he said.

The accident occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday on Oak Hill Road.

Mr. Garcia's 8-year-old son walked a mile to his house, in his pajamas and bare feet, to get help for his unconscious father, who was trapped inside his 2012 Honda Civic. The vehicle was partially submerged in the Nashua River, according to authorities.

The boy's step-mother called 911 and emergency personnel were dispatched to the intersection of Oak Hill Road and River Street.

Sgt. Fossa said Mr. Garcia was headed home from a Columbus Street apartment with his son when his car that was moving at a high rate of speed slammed through a guardrail only a few blocks away from his starting point.

His 8-year-old son unbuckled himself to check on his father, he said.

After escaping the vehicle, the boy was able to meander over the rocks in the rough current of the Nashua River, scale a steep embankment and walk to his home, Sgt. Fossa said.

"The boy said he saw a lot of blood on his father and then did what he thought he should at 8 years of age," Sgt. Fossa said. "He got his mother. He didn't panic and stay at the scene. He acted admirably and did what we hope all kids learn to do early their education."

The boy's stepmother brought him back to the scene of the accident, he said.

"It is pretty incredible stuff," Sgt. Fossa said. "I can only imagine the boy's interpretation was surreal for her."

Firefighters used a ladder to rescue Mr. Garcia.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian F. Belliveau said it is a miracle the two survived the crash.

He said the car "threaded the needle," taking out a small piece of guardrail at 1 Oak Hill Road that allowed it to fly over the river then crash about 18 feet onto a sandbar halfway across the racing water.

Both Mr. Garcia and his son were transported to a local hospital, treated and released.